For Tim Cunha, as a Democrat in a R+08 district, this race is no an easy task. But Republican Clifford Stearns may be caught misappropriating gov't. funds. Race details in the extended entry.
Running as a Dem in a R+08 district is not an easy task. Tim Cunha has the strategy to win. All he needs is for someone in the DCCC to take a new look at this district. If the DCCC spent even 1/3 of the amount of money it has committed to the next-door district the R+04 FL-08, Tim would have an excellent shot.
Check out www.TimCunha.com.
Tim is running as a "moderate democrat" since this is a red district, but on the issues he is definitely progressive. He was one of the first candidates to endorse the Responsible Plan for Ending the War in Iraq and has come out against off shore drilling.
His opponent, it turns out is involved in a potential scandal:
In 2002, Stearns bought a house in Crescent Beach, just south of Jacksonville,--this house is NOT in his district. On good authority, we know that since then, over the past 5+ years, he has regularly made first-class flights from DC to the Jacksonville Airport, where he is picked up by a saff member from the Orange Park office and driven to the Crescent Beach house. A few days later, a staff member picks him up from Crescent Beach and drives him back to Jacksonville Airport for his return flight to DC. ALL of this travel is at taxpayer expense and is under the guise of a "return to district" trip--BUT, HE NEVER SETS A TOE INTO THE DISTRICT! At worst this is misappropriation of government funds; at best its total disdain for his constituents, using a trip paid for by the taxpayers for the purpose of returning to his district--and all he does is soak up the Florida sun at he beach just as he soaks up expense money from the public trough.
But no news orgs have picked up on it yet! I really hope someone at DailyKos or TPM can do some investigating of this issue --- it could make a huge difference.
Tim has also just recently been endorsed by Buddy McKay, the former congressman from the district and former governor of Florida (see www.TimCunha.com):
This year north central Florida has a unique opportunity to reclaim the seat in Congress that I formerly held. I consider it the biggest privilege of my life to have served the 6th district in the U.S. Congress.
That's why I'm supporting Tim Cunha for the United States House of Representatives from the 6th District and appeal to you to support him as well by contributing to his campaign for change at www.TimCunha.com.
Tim Cunha provides the experience, principle, and leadership we so desperately need in Congress. And Tim will support a new Democratic President and represent the real interests of the vast majority of Floridians "in the middle" who aren't properly served by this ultra right wing Republican incumbent Clifford Stearns.
Issues confronting the House of Representatives are increasingly complex, requiring wide expertise in a broad array of disciplines. I have met with Tim, and have talked at length with him. He has been a small business owner, lawyer, college educator, scientific researcher, and management consultant. I am convinced he will utilize that experience to become a leader in Congress, a leader we can be proud of.
Please consider donating to the campaign.